Water Regulations (WRAS) Certificate

The majority of work available to plumbers and plumbing companies is nowadays, becoming greater for those registered as “Approved Contractors”. Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Health Care Trusts and many Building Contractors and Developers are making “Approved Contractor” status a pre-requisite for lucrative site work or contracts being given out to plumbers. This is due to professional standards and the correct installation of work now under more scrutiny than ever before.

For this reason BPEC has produced a learning package to give plumbers “Approved Contractor Status” aimed primarily at practising plumbers and at those students with limited previous knowledge (who already have knowledge of hot and cold water systems) and more widely, anyone who is involved with the installation or design of water systems in any building.

• become familiar with the contents of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999;
• know how to comply with the Regulations in practice;
• be aware of the primary legislation underpinning the Regulations;
• have an understanding of the documents used to enhance and explain the meaning of the regulations and in particular the Regulators Specification on the prevention of backflow and the WRAS Water Regulations Guide

Successful completion of the Water Regulations course will enable candidates to self-certify their plumbing work and work for an organisation as an “Approved Contractor”. Above all The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) is the UK Water Industry's approval scheme that will enable plumbers and plumbing companies to be regarded as approved and their work has been assessed and is proven to be of high quality. This certificate is for anyone wanting to join a Competent Person Scheme who wants to gain lucrative work for local large organisations such as: authorities, housing associations, social housing groups and insurance companies. Water companies are themselves establishing ‘Approved Installer Schemes’ where plumbers who are members of such a scheme would be entrusted to ensure that their workmanship and the fittings they have installed comply with the Regulations.

After gaining this certificate, Approved Contractors do not need to notify the local authority about certain installations, which Non-Approved Contractors must notify. Water Companies compile lists of Approved Contractors, which the general public will use, and it is likely that local Authorities and Housing Associations will insist that plumbing contractors are Approved Contractors. The BPEC Water Regulations Training Package is designed to be used on a short training and assessment course after which a Certificate of Competence will be issued. The Certificate will be issued jointly by BPEC and the Water Regulations Advisory Service (WRAS). The Water Regulations Competency Certificate is proving to be the standard throughout the UK for Water Companies to use for recommending and employing installers. The training package consists of an introductory booklet, 12 manuals (or study units) and a support document to use for reference. After enrolling on the course you will receive the training package which will consist of an introductory booklet followed by the 12 manuals called:

• Introduction, background and legislation
• The Water Regulations
• Materials and substances in contact with water
• Requirements for water fittings
• Water System Design
• Installation Commissioning
• Cross Connections
• Black flow prevention
• Cold Water Services
• Hot Water Services
• WCs and Urinals
• Sanitary Appliances and water for outside use.

The assessment itself consists of two multi-choice question papers, the first of which will be based upon the Training Package manuals and is an open ‘book test’. The second consists purely of a practical test, where you will be shown a video and asked to spot and identify contraventions of the Regulations. You will then receive a BPEC/Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) Certificate. Access Training is committed to the highest standards of customer focus and technical expertise, with a host of benefits including:

• Specialist, professionally qualified teaching staff with a wealth of industry experience.
• Enhanced Online Assessments, allowing students to sit exams with flexibility to fit around their speed of learning.
• Students are provided with a study pack and relevant books to support each part of the qualification:
• 24hr online support for all student questions and queries when studying away from the training centre.

The main areas include:

• South Wales
  (Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend)
• South of England
  (Bristol, Gloucester, Bath, Swindon, Oxford, Reading, Slough, London)
• The Midlands
  (Birmingham, Hereford, Worcester, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester)
• The South West
  (Devon, Cornwall, Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton)

Information regarding careers in plumbing is available from our Course Advice Team. Please call for advice or leave your details and we’ll contact you!